Cowboys' feisty Scandrick breaking out

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New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (80) goes up to catch a pass as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick (32) tries to deflect the throw during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013, in East Rutherford, N.J. Scandrick broke up the pass on the play. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan)

Photo By Peter Morgan / Associated Press

Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick held Giants Pro Bowl receiver Victor Cruz to just two receptions for 47 yards and forced him to fumble early in Dallas' crucial road victory.

Photo By Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick (32) celebrates after sacking St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford during the first quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

IRVING — Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick doesn't want to hear any talk about how tough it is to cover slot receivers in today's pass-happy NFL.

“I don't think anybody cares,” he said Tuesday. “I think they just want the end result. And the end result is, you give up a first down, you suck. Replace you.

“I live by the saying, '90 percent of the people don't care about your problems, and the other 10 percent is happy you got them.'”

Those comments pretty much sum up Scandrick. He's blunt, unflinching and always sports what coach Jason Garrett calls a boulderlike chip on his shoulder.

“That's the way I live my life,” said Scandrick, a 2008 fifth-round pick for the Cowboys who replaced struggling, injury-hampered 2012 first-round pick Mo Claiborne as a starter this season.

“I always have something to prove. I always have a goal. I'm never content, and I'm always striving for the best, for excellence.”

And many times this season, he's achieved it. In stating his case for his first Pro Bowl berth, Scandrick has career highs in interceptions (two) and pass breakups (12). And, according to Pro Football Focus, he's allowed just 0.75 yards per cover snap, which ranks fifth among corners.

Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin also heaped praise on Scandrick, comparing him to former Tampa Bay star corner Ronde Barber and suggesting he's playing at a Pro Bowl level.

“Orlando is really having an outstanding year,” Kiffin said. “I know somebody made a statement that slot corners, nickel corners, don't make the Pro Bowl. Well, he's not just a nickel corner. He plays outside, too. He's a starter outside. He has been all year. He moves in to play the nickel.

“Now, that's even harder than just being a corner outside all day long and starting every game and never coming off the field. He's great. We do it with Orlando the same we did it with Ronde Barber. Ronde started outside, and Ronde slid inside, you know.”

Said Garrett: “Orlando has had some really big, important games for us.”

That was definitely true last weekend in the 24-21 win over the New York Giants. After begging the coaches to let him cover Victor Cruz, Scandrick held the Pro Bowl slot receiver to just two catches for 47 yards and stripped the ball from him in the first quarter, a tone-setting takeaway that resulted in safety Jeff Heath scoring on a 50-yard return.

A few days later, Cruz blamed his meager production on Scandrick cheating.

“He always holds on every play,” Cruz told NJ.com. “... He grabs and holds on everyone.”

Told Cruz's comments, Scandrick responded in a manner that reflects his high level of self-confidence.

“I know it might have felt like it was two guys on him, or a double team,” Scandrick said. “But what I say to that is, I didn't have one penalty.”

Scandrick said his stellar play this season is a result of hours spent studying opponents. But the biggest contributing factor to Scandrick just may be his feisty demeanor.

“I mean, he'll have a little edge at practice today, and it will just be a walkthrough,” Garrett said. “That's part of what makes him a really good football player.”